Our History

Child Evangelism Fellowship® is the world's largest mission agency to children. Last year over 31 million children were reached in CEF® ministries in over 200 countries. For more than 85 years CEF® has successfully met the challenge of training thousands of Christians to evangelize and disciple children. Children's Ministries Institute® (CMI®) is actively preparing leaders for strategic ministry to today's child.
CEF® has over 3,500 missionaries internationally, approximately 3,400 of whom are nationals. Out of those missionaries, 852 full-time workers serve across the USA and Canada with the help of an estimated 40,000 volunteers.

CEF® was founded by Jesse Irvin Overholtzer in 1937

CEF® was founded by Jesse Irvin Overholtzer in 1937. Growing up in a religious family, Jesse was convicted of his own sin at the age of 12 and sought counsel from his mother. He was told, "Son, you are too young." It wasn't until Overholtzer was in college that he heard the Gospel and trusted Christ as his Savior.
Jessie Irvin Overholtzer was raised in a church which taught that praying and religion were for grown-ups. Although as a young child he longed to be right with God, the way of salvation was never made plain to him. When the conviction of sin became too much to bear and his questions were not answered, Jessie decided that if he couldn't get saved, he might as well sin as much as he wanted. The next eight years were filled with rebellion and darkness. Finally, at age 20, Jessie Overholtzer accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.
Later as a pastor. Mr. Overholtzer read one of Charles Spurgeon's sermons which stated, "A child of five, if properly instructed, can, as truly believe and be regenerated, as an adult." Thinking back to his own childhood and those wasted years, he was tremendously burdened for the salvation of children. The Lord used this statement in Mr. O's life to lead him to begin the ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship® when he was 60 years old. The ministry has grown into the largest evangelistic outreach to children in the world. CEF® is currently ministering in countries around the world and in every state in the U.S. 
Mr. Overholtzer enlisted the help of leading evangelicals of his day; Dr. Paul W. Rood and Dr. Harry A. Ironside. In May 1937, in the state of Illinois, Child Evangelism Fellowship® was incorporated.

Leadership was desperately needed in 1945

Leadership was desperately needed in 1945. Calls began to come in for directors and missionaries to develop the CEF® program in areas that Mr. Overholtzer had visited in the USA and overseas.
In an effort to meet the challenge of training capable men and women for leadership positions in CEF®, the Leadership Training Institute was begun. The charter student body numbered 30.
"You're going to see this school big someday," Mr. Overholtzer told the students. "Other schools will be patterned after it around the world." His prediction came true.
"And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."
- 2 Timothy 2:2 -

In intervening years

In intervening years, graduates of that first school set up Leadership Training Institutes in various countries around the world where CEF® ministers. Today over 4,500 students have graduated from the USA Institute alone. Hundreds more have received the specialized training in CEF International Institutes which are regularly held in Europe, Latin America, East Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Institute graduates have been found ministering to children, training children's workers, and leading children's ministries around the world in CEF®, local churches, and other mission organizations.
In 1992, the school became known as the Children's Ministries Institute®.  Now, as always, CMI® is dedicated to providing quality, practical training for those called of God to take the Gospel message to the most forsaken mission field in the world today—the children.